patton



3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. P. PATTON.

OAR HEATER.

N0. 368,488. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

N PETERS, PhumLnhogmpnm. Washmgtor D. C4

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. P. PATTON.

GAR HEATER.

No. 368,488. Patented Aug. 16, 1887.

mvenfoz mmv N PETERS, Pnotlxxhagnpher, Wzmlngnm. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM l). PATTON, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO VILLIAM T. HILDRUP, SR., VILLIAM T. HILDRUP, JR., AND JOHN HEEVEY PATTON, OF SAME PLACE, AND SEYMOUR \V. TULLOOK, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CAR-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,488, dated August 16, 1887.

Y Application filed March 24, 1387. Serial No. 132212. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom i6 may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. Par'roN, of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Heaters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, sueh as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in car-heaters, and more particularly to a heater that is suspended beneath the body of a railroad-ear to Warm the interior.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a car-heating device that will generate gaseous fuel from hot Water and hydrocarbon oil, ranging in specific gravity from 27 to 750, hydrometer gage, to produce a fixed gas that is generated in volume in a close retort and supplied as it is requ'iredfor consumption, the heat evolved by combustion of the fuel being utilized to raise the temperature of water in a proper heater, the Water being distributed in tubular coils that are located iu a car, the circulation of the heated water or low-pressure steam warming the car by radiation, the construction of the apparatus being such that the process of gas-generation and consequent combustion ot' same will be instantly arrestedin case a car is thrown from the track and falls upon either of its sides.

A further object is to provide a car-heating device that may be located beneath the ear by suspension and be supplied with materials from which to generate gaseous fuel from nonexplosive oil or water in proper volume, the fuel being also an illuminaut, that may be employed to light the car as well as heat it.

A further object is to so construct a carheating apparatus, which is supported beneath a ear, that convenient tanks for the supply of fuel-generating materials may be combined with the same and both the tanks and the water-heating chamber be compactly and securel y sustained in position to operate properly while the ear is in motion.

A further object is to provide a means whereby the feeding of water'from a supplywater tank to the water-heater will be self- 5o regulating and be effected when the generation of steam creates a pressure in the heating-chamber above a fixed degree.

A further object is to provide a means whereby the feeding of water and carbonaeeous material from which the gaseous fuel is generated may be regulated from the interior of the ear.

A further object is to construct the Water and carbon liquid supply tanks of a depend- 6o ing car-heater that they may becompaetly located to feed the liquids to the heating apparatus by gravity, and that this feeding action may be controlled from the interior of the ear.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts that will be hereinafter specifically described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings making a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation in section of the water-heater in position beneath a ear. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the water-heating apparatus with the end removed to show interior mechanism. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation ol' the water-heater, showing its exterior'. Fig.4 is a cross-section of the device on aline, .fr x, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the device showing the 8o water-regulating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the water-heater and tanks, showing oil-feeding device in position on side of heater opposite to the water-regulating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the heater 85 with the top plate removed. Fig. S is a plan view ofthe heating-coils in a car. Figs. 9 and 10 show side and front views of the oilfeeding automatic shut-off valve respectively. Fig. 11 is an elevation in section of the feed- 9o water regulator. Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the gas generating and consuming mechanism.

A represents the outer shell of the waterheater. This is made of plate-iron, and is of suitable width and length to receive the waterchambers A A2. The upper chamber, A', is made of plate-iron to neatly fit the rectangular shell A. It is of comparatively shallow depth, and is stayed by the rigid insertion of the stay-bolts a a, 85e., into the top and lower plates. The chamber A2 is of the same width as the upper chamber, A', and somewhat shorter than it to afford room for a combustion-chamber, A3, in front of it.

Between the chambers A and A2 a space,b, intervenes. This is afforded by the insertion into the adjacent sheets ofthe threaded nipples c c, that are re-'enforced by jam-nuts c,which have bearing contact upon each sheet, the nipples affording water-passages between these chambers. Y

The lower chamber, A2, is provided with a number of regularlyspaced iiuesd d, that extend betweenv .and into the upper vandlower sides, and are secured in the same rigidly to produce water-tight joints. A space, d, for heat circulation is made between the lower surface of the shellA and the lower side of the chamber Az, the connected chambers A A2 being supported upon the brackets d2, at each end of thesame, a vertical wall, e,that is erected at the front end of the chambers, aiding to retain them in this position.

A safety-valve,B5, is attached to the sides of the upper chamber, A. This is secured by a bracket, B, which is bolted to the shell A, and is adapted to receive a spiral spring, et, that is of such relative proportion in diameter of the body of its coil as to affordl a tensional strength' suflicient to hold the valve c3 in proper closed engagement with its seat until an objectionable pressure is developed in the water-heating chambers Al A",when it will rise and relieve this excess of pressure.

.The gas generator and consumer C is located in the combustion-chamber A3. It consists of a metallic retort, D, of a proper size, preferably rectangular in form, to which is attached the gasconducting pipes f, that lead the gas as it is evolved in the retort to the burners g, which are adapted to mix air with the current of hydrocarbon gas, and by reason of the oxygen thus combined cause a smokeless combustion of the gaseous fuel.

In Fig. 12 the interior construction of the gas generating and consuming device is shown enlarged. The retort D is made, preferably, as shown, and has the pipes ff attached to its sides and ends. These pipes have diminished gas-passages formed at the points 3 3, that inject gas generated in the retort into the burners g g, 85e., which are perforated on their top surfaces to permit a combustion of the mixed `gas and hot air. The upright pipes f f are perforated at opposite points, f ,above the jetorices-3 8, to admit atmospheric air to mix with the gaseous productl evolved by heating the retort and injecting water and carbonaceous liquid in graduated quantity into this hot retort. A similar burner, h, is securedfto the pipes fat a point below the retort D. It is of sufficient size to heat the retort and generate hydrocarbon gas therein in volume when the proper materials are introduced. The oil or othercarbonaceous liquid is fed into the retort D by apipe, L,which connects the retort with an oil-tank, S', located above it. The valve P is so connected with the pipe L that the supply of oil fed into the retort maybe regulated by the hand-wheel m from the outside of the car, and also by a similar wheel, m2, located within the car,this wheel or handle being secured to the vertical rod m', which is an extension of the stem of the valve P above the wheel m.

A means of cutting off the oil-supply from the retort D, when an accident derails the car and throws it overV on one of its sides, is

shown at R. (See Figs. 2 and 8.) This valve is made to close on its seat by the spring o. It is held open by the yoke o, which is connected to the valve-stem o2 of the valve, and is made to rest upon the toe of the swinging weight p, that retains it in a raised position with the attached valve r when the car is in normal position on the track. When the car is made to assume a position exceeding fortyiive degrees of inclination from a perpendicular line, or is thrown over on its side from accidental causes while in mot-ion, the action of gravity will swing the pendent weight p and cause it to disengage its toe s from the yoke o', releasing the latter and permitting the spring actuated valve o to close instantly. The closure of the valve Rwill at once cut off the supply of oil, and in consequence the flame in the combustion-chamber A3 will be extinguished upon the derailment of a car that upsets the same, or a collision that crushes it, thus obviating danger from fire.

Free access to the combustion-chamber A3 is afforded by the door E. A grate, i, is provided to hold materials to start a light fire, which is necessary to heat the retort when the heating apparatus is to be put into operation.

I preferably locate this heating device about the center of the car, below the body, and suspend it by looped bars I, which secure the shell A in suspended position to the truss-rods H of the car.

The combined water and oil tanks (shown in Figs. 7 and 10) are supported upon the truss-rods H of the car, and are secured to these rodsby any suitable method. In order to make these devices compact and render the transportation of the carbonaceous liquid safe from fire, I prefer to construct the oil or benzine tank inside the water-tank, and thus envelop the former-named receptacle with water when in use. The pipe L, which conducts the oil from the tank S to the retort D, is inserted through the wall of the water-tank S, a watertight joint being secured by any proper method.

The water and oil tanks are each provided with a stop-cock, Ifl, at one end to permit the filling of these tanksexpeditiously at a station, and I prefer to make the tanks of such a capacity that a supply sufficient to last for ICC IIO

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twenty-four hours use of the heater will be held by them.

It is essential that water from the tank S be fed at proper intervals to the water-heat ing chambers A A2, and to accomplish this from the interior of the car the connectingpipe V is attached to the lower portion of the water-chamber A2 and water-tank S, upon one side of the same, this pipe having a valve, WT, introduced in its line to graduate the tlow of water into the chamber A2 by use of the vertical rod yzo and its handle.

In case of neglect to feed water at a proper time, and the heat evaporation, together with the use of water to generate gas, reduces the quantity of water in the chamber A', an automatic valve will open when the pressure rises above a proper degree in the chambers A A2. An enlarged view of this device is shown in Fig. ll, which will now be described.

.The cylindrical valve U is constructed having a removable cap, w, on its upper end, a stuffing-box, 0, on its lower end, and an inlet branch pipe, a2, upon its side, the latter having a flange, a3, to connect the chamber U to the side of the water-tanks. The interior-of the chamber U is made cylindrically true,and is fitted with a spring plunger-valve, u, that is of sufficient length to cover the opening a2 of the branch pipe where it intersects the chamber. An outlet,u, is made in the chamber U below the inlet branch u?, a pipe,x,of proper size,being secured to the outlet-orilce to conduct water to the upper heating-chamber when the valve u is made to slide upward and uncover the inlet-opening u2.

A rod, a4, extends downward to enter the y flattened spherical chamber K. This is constructed of two dished and flanged portions that mate each other in diametrical size and concavity of interior surface. The flanges z z' are perforated to be screw-bolted together, and have a thin diaphragnna, preferably made of metal,interposed between them before they are connected.

Upon the top surface of the diaphragm a a spiral spring, a', is seated to have bearing con` tact with the inner surface of the chamber K, this spring being made of proper tension to hold the valve a over the inlet-pipe opening and prevent an inux of water when pressure in the upper chamber, A', does not go above a predetermined degree. Upon the bottom of the chamber K the pipe N is attached. This extends through an opening in the side of the combustionchamber A, thence upward to penetrate the lower sheet of the chamber A and cuter this chamber. A branch pipe, o, is connected to the upright part of pipe N, and extends to enter the retort D at o', this branch c serving to supply the necessary feedwater for gas-generation.

It is evident that when ahigher pressure is attained in the chamber A than is desirable, due to want of water-supply and consequent free generation of steam, the diaphragm a and attached valve u will be raised sufficiently to allow Water to enter the chamber U, and from thence passing through the opening in the ringvalve a lill the chamber and be forced through the pipe N into the heating-chamberA. When sufcient water has entered the chamber A to lower the temperature by condensation ot' steam, the diaphragm a and attached valve u will resume their normal position and cut off the water-feed.

It should be distinctly understood that the gas generated in the retort D is a tixed gas, and nota mere vapor ofthelighter hydrocarbon liquids, such as gasoline. I prefer to use coaloil of such a density as will not vaporize in the atmosphere without heat. This may range in specific gravity from 27 to 72, or from heavy coal-oil to crude benzine, preference being` given to oil ot' about 54:0, hydrometer gage. The use of water is necessary to dissociate the oil and furnish oxygen and hydrogen in volume to combine with the carbon of the oil to evolve gas. The proportion of water may be as high as two Volumes of water to one of carbon, and thus furnish a gaseous fuel ot' great heating power. The use of water cuts down the cost ot' gasgeneration and affords a Very economical gaseous fuel.

Two heat-distributing coils, A, are placed each in a box, which is preferably made to extend from end to end of the car beneath the floor, with a register at each seat. This is optional, as the coils A may be placed at the sides of the car in boxes or recesses provided to receive them. The boxesin which the coils are placed may be lined with metal to rellect the heat, and the contact with the wood be protected by asbestus boards or felt cloth, to prevent charring. The coils are attached to the branch pipe Y in the upper chamber, A', and a similar pipe, Y', to return the cooled water to the lower chamber, A2.

In some cases it may be preferred to use two 'waterheating appliances, they being supported in a line across the bottom of the car, as shown in Fig. 5. \Vhen two heaters are used, a heat distributing coil is attached to each heater, one on each side ot' the car. A stean'1-gage may be connected to the heatingchambers A to indicate when pressure is increased above a desirable point, and a spring safety-valve, B, set to raise and relieve this excess of pressure, is attached upon the side of the chamber Al to have a proper connection with its interior, as previously stated.

In operation the valve I is opened to permit oil to enter the retort D. After a light `nire of wood or charcoal has been started a sufficient length of time to heat the retort, the carbon vapor thus produced will issue from the burner h and be ignited. NVater is now introduced by opening valve c2, (see Fig. 2,) that is located in the pipe n. This will be instantlyvaporized, and having chemical affinity for the carbon atoms, will combine with them. The absorption of carbon by the oxygen of the vaporized water will effect a decomposition of the superheatcd steam and a recomposition ICO IIO

ninto the combustion -chamberrA VThe nipv ples c affording communication-passages for water between the lower chamber, A2, and upper chamber, L the cooler water in the lower chamber will rise as the hot water is made to enter the distributing-coils, and after parting with its heat by radiation is returned to the lower chamber, A2. In this manner a constant circulation of the water is maintained.

In case steam is formed that does not exceed the maximum pressure allowed in the chambers, the heating of the car will as effectually be accomplished by the radiation of its contained heat from the distributingcoils into which it rises.

As the candle-power of the gas produced in the retort D may be made sufficiently high to be serviceable as an illuminant, an outlet, J, may be made in the wall of the retort to allow a proper gas service pipe to be attached thereto,which pipe may be extended to proper points in the car to furnish gas to light the interior of the same. In case it is desired, there may be a branch conductor-pipe led to a proper point to supply gas to a gas-range for cooking purposes, the latter-named vfeature being particularly available in the cooking department of a dining-room car.

rjhe novel gas-generating retort and its con nected burner, which are employed in combination with other devices to produce this safety car-heater, I do not desire to claim,

broadly, at this time, but reserve the right to make a subsequent application for a divisional patent on the device for generation of hydrocarbon gas and burners that are adapted to vdirectly consume the gas as evolved, mixing the gas with atmospheric air in proper volume to afford an economical result as to consump` tion of carbonaceous liquid. I do not wish to vitiate my right to secure this device, per sc, and therefore make no specific claims for its construction in this connection.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a depending car-heater, thc combination, with an oblong water-chamber supported horizontally beneatha car-floor and a heatdistributing coil located in the car above it, of a retort, a water-feed pipe, an oilsupply pipe, and burners, the retort being adapted to generate water-gas and the burners to mix this gas with air and consume the aerogaseous mixture to heat water in the chamber and cause it to circulate in the coil, substantially as set forth.

2. In a car-heater, the combination, with a water-containing chamber supported below a car, a gas generating and consuming device, and a heat-distributing coil in the car, of a watcrlsupply tank and an oil-supply tank, the oil-tank being placed inside the watertank, both tanks being supported above thc depending water-heating apparatus, substantially as set forth.

3. In a depending car-heater, the combina tion, with a water-containing chamber, a gas generating and consuming device, and a heatdistributing coil, of a water-tank, an oil-tank contained in the water-tank, and a pipe leading from the oil-tank to the generator device, having a valve that will automatically close when the car is thrown over on either side, substantially as set forth.

4t. In a depending car-heater, the combina tion, with a water-holding chamber thatis con tained in a shell, and a combustion chamber at one end of the water-chamber and shell, of a gas generating and consuming device, a heat-distributing coil, a water-tank, an oiltank located in the water-tank, and an automatic valve to shut off the oil from the gasgenerator when the car is thrown over on either of its sides, substantially as set forth.

5. In a depending car-heater, the combination, with a water-holding chamber, a shell to contain this chamber, a combustion-chamber at one end of the water-ehamber and shell, and a heat-distributing coil located above the wa`ter-holding chamber, of a retort, a waterfeed pipe, an oil-supply pipe, and burners that are adapted to mix the gas evolved in the retort, with atmospheric air and consume it, substantially as set forth.

6. In a car-heater that is located beneath a car, the combination, with a waterholding chamber, a gas generating and consuming device, and a heat-distributing coil, of a watertank andan oiltank, the oil-tank inside the water-tank, and an automatic.water-feeding device that will open to admit water to the water-heating chamber when the temperature of contained water in this chamber rises above a predetermined degree, substantially as set forth.

7. In a'depending car-heater, the combination, with a water-chamber located in a shell below a car-body, a combustion chamber at one end ofthe shell and water-chamber, and a heating-coil located in the car above the water-chamber, of a water-tank and an oil-tank, a retort, a feed-water pipe attached to the water-tank and retort, an oil-supply pipe connected to the oil-tank and retort, and a valve that automatically closes the passage in the oil-pipe when the car is thrown over upon either of its sides, substantially as set forth.

8. In a depending car-heater, the combination, with two rectangular waterchambers lying horizontal, parallel to each other, and

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connected to afford water circulation and pro- Vide a heat-passage between them, of a series of heat-conveying tubes located vertically in the lower water-chamber, a shell or jacket to inclose the Water-chambers, a combustioncharnber at one end of the shell, and a gasgenerator and burners located in the combustion-chamber, substantially as set forth.

9. In a depending car-heater, the combination, with a rectangular shell, two Waterchambers located one above the other in this shell, a combustion-chamber at one end of the shell, and a heating-coil placed in the car, of a retort, a water-feeding pipe, an oil-supply pipe, oil and water tanks supported below the car-Hoor, an automaticwater-feeding device, and an automatic oil-cutoff valve that closes when the car is thrown over on either side, Substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM l?. PATTON.

NVitnessesz GEORGE F. DOWNING, SUMMERFIELD G. NOTTINGHAM. 

